Environmentalists demand from EU to tackle Chinese firms’ violations
Eight organizations urged the EU to do more to tackle legal breaches by Chinese companies. They said the authorities in Brussels and European governments have to tell the most populous nation to stop building new coal power plants in the 27-member bloc and accession countries and to make it respect the law. China’s President Xi […]
Greece asks EU to approve state aid for 680 MW pumped storage project
GEK Terna is building two pumped storage hydropower plants and artificial lakes in Amfilochia in western Greece that will use an existing lower reservoir. The government filed its support scheme with the European Union’s competition authorities for clearance. The Ministry of the Environment and Energy of Greece has submitted a request to the European Commission […]
Croatia reduces green power surcharge for energy-intensive companies
Energy-intensive companies in Croatia could save up to EUR 10 million a year through the government’s scheme to reduce the surcharge they pay for incentivizing renewable energy production. The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a Croatian scheme that grants reductions to energy-intensive companies on a surcharge to finance support for renewable […]
EU conditions EUR 251 million state aid to coal, power utility CE Oltenia
The European Commission has approved Romania’s plans to grant a EUR 251 million loan to second-biggest power producer Complexul Energetic Oltenia (CE Oltenia) but with strict conditions. The Romanian government has defined a plan to help Complexul Energetic Oltenia (CE Oltenia), coal-based utility trapped in a financial squeeze for years. A public loan warrants approval […]
Romania to invest EUR 53 million in charging stations for hybrid, electric vehicles
Romania is launching a EUR 53 million state aid scheme to stimulate investments in charging stations for hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) which will span from 2020 to 2025. The measure is approved by the European Commission under EU state aid rules. Romania currently has more than 150 charging stations for EVs. In 2018, authorities […]
Coal subsidies prompt Energy Community to warn six governments
The European Commission is aware of state aid registered in a study for 2015 to 2017, the EnC Secretariat in Vienna said and published an assessment as a followup to the document. It raised concern about coal subsidies with regard to competition regulation and stressed the authorities should get policy in line with EU rules. […]
Lluka: Case for TPP Kosova e Re to be presented in Vienna on January 17
Amid looming deadlines in the controversial project for the construction of a coal-fired power plant, Kosovo* is preparing for a hearing with the Secretariat of the Energy Community. The international body has challenged state aid to the Kosova e Re facility. The representatives of the government will present their case on January 17 in Vienna, […]
Energy Community challenges state aid to Kosova e Re
The Energy Community Secretariat said it has sent a so-called opening letter to Kosovo* with the intention to resolve the dispute regarding the backing for the project of a coal-fired power plant of 450 MW. The international institution claims the stimulus for Kosova e Re is “per se illegal state aid” as the authority responsible […]